A French gilt metal chandelier, early 20th century, the eight…
click the photo to enlarge
A French gilt metal chandelier, early 20th century, the eight branches applied with a gilded wrought metal foliate design, and finished with crystal lustre drops, 100 cm, 50 cm diameter approximately

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.

    For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.

    Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.
  • Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A gilt bronze and glass eight-light ceiling light, French, 19th century. 79 cm high

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A French heavy wrought iron six branch chandelier with Highlighted acanthus leaf decoration, circa 1890. 88 cm high, 87 cm diameter

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

An eight-branch gilt metal and glass ceiling light, French, 19th century. Approximately 86 cm high

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A bronze and crystal ten light chandelier, French, 19th century, 120 cm high

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.